What is this ridiculousness? I tried to open a bank account, and some banks requires that I get a passport. My state, federal, and job-related ID’s weren’t good enough. I am a natural-born American citizen, not an international. And I don’t plan to travel abroad. Is it because I’m Black and they are profiling me? They say that it came from orders from the federal government, but I know that they are trying to sell fertilizer to a non-gardener, because I found a bank where one does not need a passport to open an account. Hey Cecil, moderators and others, please answer.
What bank are you at?
You should go to Washingtom Mutual. That place rocks.
No one cares what color you are. I think that trying to open an account with a suitcase full of used tens and twenties is what’s bothering them at the bank. Send it to me…I’ll open an account for you.
I’ve opened several bank accounts recently and I’ve never heard of this. Could it be that they just require two forms of ID and you only have one type? E.g., maybe they require state ID AND a passport OR certified birth certificate. You don’t mention a driver’s license. Sometimes if you don’t have one people look at you more carefully. They aren’t used to seeing other types of I.D.
I won’t name banks beause policy from branch to branch may be different. I’ll just say I won’t be conducting any business with those branches, not even using their AT machines.
You should not be required to have a Passport to open a Bank Account. Unless you plan to leave the country for somewhere other than Canada, Mexico, or the Carribean you have NO LEGAL NEED for one. You can be required to provide two certified forms of ID, but a drivers liscence and Social Security card should be sufficient. If this is the case, than this bank is being unreasonable in its enforcemnt of its ID policy. This sort of practice is unreasonable.
When I first moved back here from San Diego, my wife had a HELL of a time getting a bank account. They kept having all kinds of strange requirements about her having certain amounts in checking at all times and other wierd things where they wanted to see multiple forms of ID. In her case, it was because she bounced a check 5 years ago, and many of the banks have a zero-tolerance policy when they check stuff like that out through their credit reporting agency. Alternatively, maybe you have the same name as a questionable customer that has been ‘blacklisted’ (pardon the pun since you say you are black) for fraud, or worse yet, identity theft. You might want to check your TRW credit report and see if something is going on.
I don’t recall having to produce more than a driver’s license and social security number, but my wife went through the ringer over this check thing and like you, no amount of stuff she brought in was enough for Bank of America or Wells Fargo when she tried to get an account there.
As somewhat of an expert on this, I can say that Capacitor is wrong, and that no federal law requires a passport of a US citizen (to open a bank account), and that no FDIC bank would do do, either. The information on Form 4789 is all that is required, and that includes a passport for NON-citizens.
I notice that the name of the bank is not listed. I beleive C is either making this up, or misinterpreting something the bank said (more likely). The only time I know of that a bank asked for a passport is when someone had no drivers lic, having had all her ID stolen, so the bank accepted a passport as an alternate ID.
Dan’l, I don’t think that Capacitor was saying that there actually WAS a federal mandate, but that the bankers were feeding him a line of manure.
Capacitor, just don’t go there. If you don’t agree with their rules, to hell with them, it’s your money.
That might be kinda hard. TRW sold its credit division about three years ago (or was it four?). Same product, same company, same people; but now it’s called Experian and it has nothing to do with TRW. The page is http://www.experian.com
Mr. C, as you might see, I am also saying that no FDIC bank would say such a thing, and he said “banks” also. Either he is confused, or making it up. If the 1st, I am sure he would be glad to post the names of the Banks, and the branches, etc of those who required a passport.
This is a field of expertise with me, I KNOW he is BSing us.
I had a similar experience but it involved the SS number
One bank said they would not open an account unless I gave them one. Fine, I went across the street and that bank did not require it so they got my business.
I’d say that either Capacitor misunderstood or the bank person he was dealing with is an idiot. Go to another bank or call the bank and ask to speak with the bank manager.
Funnily enough, just today a friend told me about another stupid bank employee: her bank was merged with another one and many of the acounts were given to a third, unrelated bank (the customers had no choice in this matter, I should add). Anyway, she went in to her new branch and asked what she would have to do to close out her account, and the idiot bank person told her, “Oh, you can’t close out your account for 2 years - it’s against the law.” My friend said, “Um, I don’t think that’s right,” and the idiot replied that because the first two banks merged and the third one took over some accounts that federal law stated that customers were forbidden from closing out their accounts for 2 years. I laughed my ass off when she told me.
(I think there might be a regulation that the bank can’t close out accounts for 2 years - maybe to account for people who somehow miss the fact that their account was transferred and therefore the account becomes dormant - but customers can close anytime they want. I wanted to go into the idiot’s branch just to call her on this, but it’s too far away for me to easily get to during work.)
Oh, I agree with you fully, I was just being a nit-picking shithead. I apologize if I came across as doubting you.
Although I respect that you have suspicions that we are hearing the entire story here, accusing someone of inventing a story from whole cloth is a pretty serious charge here in GQ. I’d ask you please to reserve judgement until the OP comments again.
Thanks.
Whoa… dude, contact an attorney if you think your bank is discriminating against you. There should be NO reason you bank would require a passport if you’re a US citizen.
Umm, sailor? They really DO need your ssn- that really IS a Federal reg., at least for many types of accounts.
And, Oh great Moderator, my remark should be taken in context, ie, either he is not telling us the whole story, or he is confused, or, well, the next involves strong language.
I am sorry if I crossed a line, but the story smells. I doubt if he is inventing it “from whole cloth”, and I am sorry I gave that impression.
I know another guy that claimed a bank would not open an account for him, as they were discriminating aginst him. Turns out he was one of those who refuse to use a ssn or zip code #. Story sounded good until then.
Ok let me specify. I went to Fleet Bank and North Fork Bank in my area, and they said that I required a passport. I had my state ID card (I don’t drive), my Social Security card, my recent phone bill and my job ID card from the city government. Although you need less than that in order to get a passport, it wasn’t good enough for the banks I mentioned. No, I am not confused. Astoria allowed me to open an account.
In fact, one of the people at North Fork showed me some papaer saying that it was their current policy becuase they “apparently” had some problems from money-laundering. I was a little suspicious because some items were crossed out, leaving only passport and Alien ID. Rather than causing a ruckus, I left, vowing never to return again.
Daniel, I know you like to insult me, however, I did not ask you to do so at this or any other time. I was just asking a question.